Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-08
A COMMON OCCURRENCE.
Over $1,000 Found in the Room of Woman
Who Died a Beggar.

who Died a Beggar.
Boston dispatch says: From beg
carly little room at the rear of No. II
Albany street, Mrs. Mary Smith was re-
moved to the city hospital Saturday night,
where she died before morning. She was
76 years old, and without doubt the most
raggedly dressed woman in Boston. Her
apartment was miserably filthy, and her
clothes were little better than old rags,
kept together by strings.
Mrs. Smith was a professional beggar,
and it was while limping about on her
daily round in search of charity, Satur-
day afternoon, that she was knocked
down and run over by careless butcher
boy at the corner of Howard and Hudson
streets. Somebody removed her to her
nome and notified the police and had her
taken to the city hospital. She was not
badly hurt, but her advanced years and
her enfeebled condition resulting from
long years of prlvatIon could not with
stand the shock.
Before she died she said something
about her money and asked that Lawyer
Charles Colbeth be notified. The hospit
al attendants believed the poor creature
was wandering in her mind. This morn
ing however, word was sent to the lawyer,
the old woman had recently made a will
aud was worth several thousand dollars.
The police were notified and an officer
detailed to search the miserable lodgings.
Opening the door of the old woman's
room a foul odor greeted him, and a
dozen rats disappeared leisuriy into their
holes. The officer began his search by
ripping open the first of the two old
mattresses, when, to his surprise, several
handfuls of gold and silver coins ratified
down on the floor. The sawdust, chips
and husks with which the mattress was
stuffed, were poured into pile beside
the bed. Scattered among the chaff was a
handful of bank notes. Officer Franks
poked over the pile and saw that many
of the bills were rolled up into wads and
tied with greasy strings. He cut these
with knife, and, counting the wealth,
found $3.50. On the wall over the bed
hung an old petticoat. Mechanically
thrusting his hand into the pocket he
drew out hard rag. Opening this $40
in bills lay in his hand. AS the officer
grasped it to replace it on the hook he
felt a hard bunch of something inside
the lining. Cutting the threads with his
knife a little bag dropped out and Sc in
small silver coins rolled off on the floor.
Inside the door another dirty article of
apparel hung. It was searched, and in
the lining was found secreted large
pocket pook. Sewed into this were bills
of various denominations amounting to
$40.
On the floor lay mattress black with
filth and rolled up and tied with piece
of clothesline. Inside this and wrapped
carefully in dozen newspapers was
package of United States government
bonds of the issue of 1887, bearing four
per cent interest and amour ting in value
to 5000. Down in the corner of bag
were two bank-books of the Franklin
Savings bank, each showing a deposit of
$1,000. Continuing the search black
dress was found, and in various parts of
the lining were found sewed in separate
Iy, SIS Ia bills and silver. In a bureau
was found $3.50 in gold. TIE entire
amount CT money and bonds amounted
to between $4,000 and $1,000, which was
turned over TO the police authorities.
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The San Francisco Chronicle is sound
ing the home people on the proposition
to raise a popular subscription to help
repair the Hartford. The naval board of